The newly formed Nationalist Congress Party started its journey when Pawar Saheb was at the age of 60. Yet there was perseverance in mind, new hope in heart and a willingness to work hard, but many challenges were standing right in front of him. The marathon of Maharashtra elections was beckoning within two months, when the party had just started taking baby steps. But Pawar Saheb was ready to take on any challenge. At the establishment itself, he had made it clear that NCP would give priority to the new generation. The young at heart and young in thoughts Pawar Saheb gathered his young army and went on to face the Lok Sabha and Vidhansabha polls just in two months time. The party did not have enough time to prepare. But under the leadership of Pawar Saheb, many young people gathered. Everyone carried out the role given to them accurately. People also responded to the progressive vision of Pawar Saheb. The new party, despite having inadequate resources, won six seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The Indian National Congress had seen a new low of 112 seats. Pawar Saheb's concerns over the issue of Soniajis foreign origin were justified by this verdict. The Congress party could not come to power in the Centre. The BJP government led by Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed the government. Though, situation was different in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance could not get a clear majority and although there were indications from their alliance to come together for the establishment of power and in spite of the rift with Congress, Pawar Saheb was determined not to go with the Sena-BJP alliance. The conflict in Delhi with the Congress leadership had not escalated in Maharashtra. Hence, by joining hands with Congress, a joint Congress-NCP government was formed in Maharashtra. During this short span NCP gained massive mass base and popularity in the state. NCP got its momentum. Later, with Pawar Saheb adorning the role of the opposition in the Parliament in Delhi, it further helped NCP to expand its core at national level. Responsibility for rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Kutch On Republic Day of 2001, a severe earthquake shook Kutch, Gujarat. Thousands of homes were destroyed. More than 15,000 people died. To get Gujarat out of this predicament, the then Prime Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee convened an all-party meeting on February 3, 2001 and decided to hand over the responsibility of National Disaster Management to Honourable Pawar Saheb. Earlier, Shri. Sharad Pawar had handled the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the Killari earthquake with great skill and efficiency. Despite the fact that Pawar saheb was the Leader of the Opposition, PM Vajpayee was keen to handover this major responsibility to him. Pawar Saheb's fast, comprehensive, administrative and managerial skills were seen during the rehabilitation work and a new chapter in the field of national disaster management was written through his committee. Shri. Sharad Pawar's committee besides catastrophic calamities like drought and floods they also provided technology and trained work force for the management of natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, landslides, avalanches, landslides, hailstorms, thunderstorms, cold waves and lightning. As a result, the loss of human lives and finances was reduced and the government machinery was streamlined. And yes, Pawar Saheb had a lion's share in the disaster management policy formulated in 2005. Formation of United Progressive Alliance While blowing the trumpet of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP led National Democratic Alliance had emphasized on its India Shining campaign. But at that time the country was shaken up by the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Moreover, the rural and agricultural classes were completely neglected in the NDA government. The Congress had decided to contest the elections jointly against the ruling NDA. One morning, Smt Sonia Gandhi walked from her residence at 10 Janpath and came directly to Pawar Saheb's residence at 6, Gurudwara, Rakabganj. She expressed her desire to contest elections together. Pawar Saheb agreed and those elections were fought by the Nationalist Congress Party in alliance with the Congress and it resulted in the defeat of the NDA. UPA came to power in the centre under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh. The important responsibility of the Agriculture department was placed on the shoulders of Pawar Saheb, and after that our country experienced unprecedented growth in the agriculture sector and food exports. The credit of reviving the Agricultural sector goes to Shri Sharad Pawar.

When all this was taking place, Pawar Saheb was going through major medical condition. He was diagnosed with Cancer. Doctors had advised him to get operated at the earliest, otherwise it could turn into a life-threatening condition. In the run-up to the 2004 elections, he convened a meeting of the NCP executive, took them in confidence and got himself admitted to the hospital. Doctors said that there was a 50-50 percent chance of survival. But this strong man endured all these hardships and set an extraordinary example of courage. He told the party leaders that even if he is not in command, they still have to fight the war and with persistence, they have to win. His words motivated his young army and they faced elections with full dedication. In 2004 Maharashtra polls, NCP won more seats than the Congress. 2004 state elections will always be a memorable and unforgettable chapter in the history of the NCP.

On Republic Day of 2001, a severe earthquake shook Kutch, Gujarat. Thousands of homes were destroyed. More than 15,000 people died. To get Gujarat out of this predicament, the then Prime Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee convened an all-party meeting on February 3, 2001 and decided to hand over the responsibility of National Disaster Management to Honourable Pawar Saheb. Earlier, Shri. Sharad Pawar had handled the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the Killari earthquake with great skill and efficiency. Despite the fact that Pawar saheb was the Leader of the Opposition, PM Vajpayee was keen to handover this major responsibility to him. Pawar Saheb's fast, comprehensive, administrative and managerial skills were seen during the rehabilitation work and a new chapter in the field of national disaster management was written through his committee. Shri. Sharad Pawar's committee besides catastrophic calamities like drought and floods they also provided technology and trained work force for the management of natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, landslides, avalanches, landslides, hailstorms, thunderstorms, cold waves and lightning. As a result, the loss of human lives and finances was reduced and the government machinery was streamlined. And yes, Pawar Saheb had a lion's share in the disaster management policy formulated in 2005.

Pawar Saheb was on his way to Mumbai when these incidents were taking place in Delhi. After learning about the suspension, many leaders contacted Pawar saheb and assembled in Mumbai. Shri. P. A. Sangma came and North-East India followed him, Shri. Tariq Anwar joined and Bihar, Uttar Pradesh followed him, Former Chief Minister of Assam Sharadchandra Sinha, senior leader Sanat Mehta from Gujarat also came to Mumbai. Since the original ideology was of the Congress, the name of the party was decided as 'Nationalist Congress Party'. After that an open convention was held at Shivaji Park which received a humongous response from the people. Honourable Shri. Sharad Pawar laid the foundation of a new political party, which was based on the Gandhian ideology and principles of secularism. Shivaji Park witnessed the rise of a new era, NCP party was formed on June 10, 1999..